Rein in human rights violators, ODM MPs urge President

A section of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) MPs has condemned the death of blogger Albert Ojwang while in police custody.

Speaking Monday during a press briefing on Monday at Parliament Buildings, Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo expressed concern over what she termed as a dangerous rise in human rights violations under the Kenya Kwanza administration, calling on President William Ruto to take immediate and decisive action against state actors accused of extrajudicial killings and suppression of dissent.

Odhiambo distanced the party from any complicity in the alleged abuses, stating that the party’s collaboration with the government does not extend to condoning intolerance or violations of constitutionally guaranteed freedoms.

“But you are collaborating in a broad-based government. You’ve seen clearly in our MOU, there is no collaboration about intolerance. There is no collaboration about limiting human rights, and that is not the nature or character of our party,” she stated.

The vocal legislator insisted that ODM, as a party founded on the pillars of justice, democracy, and the rule of law, will not compromise its values even in a power-sharing arrangement.

“We cannot compromise on our values as a party. And we have spoken with the President on this issue. The President himself has said that he will bring to order those within his administration who are on the wrong,” she said.

The MP, who is also the Whip of the Minority Party in the National Assembly, urged President Ruto to act on his promises by taking firm disciplinary measures against perpetrators of human rights abuses.

“I know and I can speak authoritatively—that the President has told me in person that he does not support this. If he doesn’t, then let him act. Let him crack the whip on the people who are doing this. If he truly doesn’t tolerate it, let him prove it with action,” she said.

Seme Member of Parliament Dr. James Nyikal, on his part, called on police oversight authorities to take urgent and decisive action.

Dr. Nyikal criticised the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and other relevant institutions for failing in their constitutional mandate to protect citizens and demanded accountability from both those who issued the alleged illegal orders and the officers who executed them.

“That is exactly what we are saying. The institutions that are charged with this must take responsibility. I think IPOA must be clear right now that they have a job in their hands that they must do,” he said.

Dr. Nyikal questioned the relevance of institutions that fail to protect the very people they are meant to serve, warning that their continued existence becomes questionable in the face of systemic inaction.

Ojwang’ is reported to have been arrested and transported from Homa Bay to Nairobi under unclear circumstances, only to be reported dead in police custody, prompting outrage from human rights groups and legislators alike.

Dr. Nyikal emphasised that once a person is taken into custody, their welfare becomes the full responsibility of the police. Ojwang’, a 29-year-old from Homa Bay County, was allegedly arrested over a social media post on platform X and transported over 400 kilometers to Nairobi, where he later died.

“From the moment they arrest someone, handcuff them, or put them in a car, that person’s well-being becomes the responsibility of the police. Even if they claim the person harmed themselves in the cell, the police remain fully answerable. There is no escaping this.” He stated.